Radio tuning apparatus



Nov. 2, 1937. A. A. THOMAS 2,097,901

RADIO TUNING APPARATUS Filed April 28, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Rs corepme RADIO INVENTOR 7 -4 WMW Nov. 2, 1937. A. A. THOMAS 2;097,901

RADIO TUNING APPARATUS Filed April 28, 1932 i 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Nov. 2, 1937. A. A. THOMAS- RADIO TUNING APPARATUS Filed April 28, 19:2 4 sheets-sheet a INVENTOR Nov. 2, 1937. A. A. THOMAS v RADIO TUNING APPARATUS Filed April 28, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Rscorzoma RECEIVER HANISM PECORDING INVENTOR Patented Nov. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RADIO TUNING APPARATUS Application April 28, 1932, Serial No. 607,917

7 Claim.

This invention relates to the art of radio reception, and one of its objects is to provide novel clock-controlled mechanism for automatically tuning in one or more preselected stations at certain predetermined intervals. I further provide a recording device automatically set in operation at the right moment for recording the broadcast of any desired station, whether tuned in by hand or by clock-controlled connections. This tuning and recording control may be eifected at a distance from the radio receiver, which is electrically connected with a small box containing the clock-controlled apparatus of my invention.

It sometimes happens that peoplewould like to make a record of an unusual piece of radio broadcast, such as an address by a prominent person, or a song by a renowned singer. While provision for radio recording has heretofore been made, it has been necessary for a person to watch the clock for tuning in the station to be recorded, and to start the recording mechanism by hand. Experience has shown that people frequently forget about tuning in this or that station at a certain time, and so they miss at least part of the desired program. To obviate this, it has previously been proposed to operate radio receivers by clock-controlled tuners, but these do not provide for automatic recording of'the received broadcast. The disadvantages of that are obvious. Even if a desired station is brought in by clock-tuning, the person who wants a record of the reception may not be on hand to connect the recorder when the program starts.

One of the main objects of my invention is to assure the recording of a radio broadcast without attention by the operator; in fact, even if the latter should not be at home. To give an'illustration: Let us suppose that at nine oclock in the evening a certain station .will' broadcast a program which a person wants to record. He

finds, however, that circumstances prevent his being at home at that hour. Nevertheless, by the use 01' my invention, he need only manipulate a finger piece before leaving the house, and precisely at nine .oclock the desired. station will be tuned in and the recording mechanism will be automatically set in operation to record the received broadcast. When that particular piece of broadcast is concluded, all electric circuits are automatically opened, so there is no waste of current. A simple switch enables a person to cut the recording mechanism in or out, as desired.

Aside from the clock-controlled radio-recording feature of my invention, I have provided a remote clock-tuner of simplified and compact structure, by means of which a certain number of stations can be selected in advance to be tuned in automatically at certain intervals. In a preferred form of my invention, a box containing a clock has a series of small dials representing each a certain station. These dials may conveniently be arranged round the face of the clock, and not more than five or six will usually be necessary. Each oi these station dials is divided into quarterhours, and has a pointer which can be set by hand to any time. To bring in any one of the preselectable stations at a certain moment, a person need only set the pointer of the associated dial to indicate the required time, and the rest is automatic. The station-selecting pointers are me!- erably operated by knobs which can be pulled out and pushed in a slightdistance; When a knob is in one position, the time control for that particular station is on; and in the other position of the knob, the time control is ofi. This makes it a very simple matter to regulate the time control for each station individually.

Another feature of my invention comprises means for predetermining the length of time during which the radio receiver shall be in operation, irrespective of the indications on the station-selecting dials. Thus, if a person selects one or more stations to be clocked between the hours of 8 and 11 in the evening, and he wants the receiver turned oifat 11:30, when the last broadcast concludes, he need but set a Time out pointer at 11:30. 'When that time arrives, all circuits are automatically opened and stay that way. This arrangement makes it possible for a person to enjoy radio reception at night while lying in bed till he falls asleep, for the receiver will turn itself oil at the right time.

,The foregoing and other novel features and practical advantages of my invention will be fully understood from a detailed description of the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 illustrates the front panel of a clockcontrolled radio tuner embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 represents a sectional side-view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a transverse section approximately on the broken line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged fragmentary views showing certain contacts of the clock-tuner in diflerent positions; A I

Fig. 7 shows diagrammatically a practical form ofreversing switch adapted for use in the circuit of the reversible motor that operates the tuning shaft; and j Fig. 8 is a diagram of circuit connections between the radio receiver, the recording mechanism and the remote control box.

A suitable box or casing B contains clockoperatedswitch devices adapted to control the timing elements of a radio receiver and also the driving motor of an ted recording mechanism. TheapparatusinboxBissocompact thattheboxneedbenobiggerthanshownin Flgs.1,2and3,andmaybeevensmaller. The controlboxBma-ybeembodied-inaradio cablnet,oritcanbebuilt asaseparateportableunit (like a mantle clock) located in any convenimt place remote from the receiver and electrically connectedtheretobyacable. Thesisashape and ornamental ce oi control box 8 mayhevariedtosuitthebuilda'sorthebuyer's taste, and for simplicity I have shown, a plain rectangularboxhavingafrontpanel i2,aback l2, sides l2, atop l4, ahd a' bottom I. It is desirable to make these parts of insulating materlal,likewoodorbakelite,toobviatetheuse or separate insulation for the electric contacts inthebox. AciockKisattachedtothecmtside of back l2 by screws I or otherwise. whereby the clock is easily runovable for inspection or repair without disturbing the inside Any approved make or style of clock may be used, whether spring-wound or electric. The front panel l2 carries a clock-face l1, and the hands l2 and I2 areconnectedto the clockby an arbor or spindle 22 and a hollow shaft 2|. The minute hand llis attached to the spindle 22, and the hour hand I2 is iixedto the hollow shalt 2|, through which the spindle passes. A hub 22 on the front panel l2 forms a bearing for the rotary-nested members 22 and 2|. It the panel I. is molded of composition material, the bearing 22 may be an integral projection.

The rear shait 2| has fixed thereon a pinion 22, which may he seemed by a set-screw '24 or otherwise. The pinion 22 is wide enough to be in permanent mesh with a series of gear wheels 25, which in this instance are six in number, because lt has been that six diilerent stations can be individually selectedby means of the control box-B. The gear wheels 25 are idlers mounted on studs or pins 22, which are screwed into the back plate l2 oi the box. Since the 4 pinion 22 rotates clockwise, all the idlers "rotate in theopposite direction, as indicated by the arrows 11 in Fig. 3. Each idler gear 22 meshes with a pinion 21, and these pinions are rotatably mounted on ilxed shafts 22 carried by the back 1 plate l2 oi the control box. The pinions 21' may 1 conveniently be termed as integral teeth on shai'ts' 22 pass, and which therefore provide a-wide sleeves 22,-through which the supporting bearlngsuriacetoinsureasmooth andeasy movement. This will be clear by looking at Fig. 2. The shafts 22 pass through hubs 22 in back plate i2 and are secured against rotation by cross-pins 2| or otherwise.

On each of thesix sleeves 22 is fixed an insulating disk 22, and to facilitate distinguishing between these disks I have added the letters A to F to the numeral 22 of each disk. A-convenie'nt sleeves 221s to provide thelatter with a reduced extension '22 over which the disks are inserted and locked in place by a set-screw 24. The disks way or mounting the disks 22 on their respective 22 can bexmolded' oi bakeiite, or they can be cut from sheet-stock. the pini'ousfl are of pointers.

the same size as the central driving pinion 22, it is evident that the insulating disks 22 all ro- ;tate clockwise at the same speed as pinion 22,

which makes one revolution every hour. In the broader aspect of my invention, any other practical form of driving connection may be employed between the hour shaft 2| 0! clock K andtheinsulatingdisks22. InFlg. 3thedisk22D is for the most part broken away to show certain parts behindit, and the dash-dot line 22' is intended to indicate the periphery oi the part broken away. Y

The front panel II of the control box carries asu'iesotrotaryknobsorbuttons 22,whichare tonorknobfl. Imightexplainthitinl'lgi 'thedisks22C,22Dand22F donotappearbecausethe lowerpartof section line2--2inFlg.2 is behind those disks. However, it i's-easy to understand that those three disks are directly in front of disks 22C, 22D and 221;, respectively, on

shafts 22.

Each finger piece 22 carries or otherwise actuates a pointer 42 arranged to cooperate witha circular clock dial 4i, which is marked oil into quarter-hours, finer divisions being usually unnecessary. The dials 4i are distinguished from each other by the suilix letters A to F, respectively, for convenience of description. Each dial 4| is supposed to represent a certain station, and six of these stations are indicated in Fig.1 by their call letters. The station dials 4| may be molded of insulating material in the form of rings attached to the front panel II by screws 42 v or otherwise. Each dial ring 4| has a central recess 42 in which the time-setting pointer 42 operates. when any one of .the knobs 22 is pushed in, the pointer a is at or near the bottom of recess 42, as shown in Fig. 2. However, when .the knob is pulled out to the dotted line position 22', the pointer 42 is approximately in line with the adjacent dial 4|, as indicated by the dotted outline 42' in Fig. 2. The outer position of pointers 42 brings them practically into the plane of the markings on dial 4!, so that it is easy to obtain strictly accurate time settings of the The slidable movements of knobs 22, the purpose of which will be explained in due course, are limited inwardly by the annular shoulder 44 on each knob, and outwardly by the inner end 45 of the hubs 46 in which the sleeves 22 are mounted. By. looking at Fig. 2, it is evident thatthe inward movement of each knob 2| is stopped when the shoulder 44 strikes the bot-. tom of recess 42 of the dial ring 4|. The outward movement of any knob 22 is stopped when the associated disk 22 strikes the inner end 42 oi the supporting hub 46. In actual practice the extent of the axial movements of the station- 28 and hubs 46 with sufiicient friction to be firmly held in either axial position. I may, however, in some cases employ separate retaining means, such as a spring-pressed ball 41 carried by each sleeve 36 and arranged to snap into either one of a pair of grooves 48 and 49 in the associated shaft 28. By providing the knobs 35 with a. peripheral rib 35a (see Fig. 2), it is easy to grasp them for pulling out.

Each insulating disk 32 carries a peripheral contact ring 50 and a contact finger 5| projecting axially from the front face of the disk. A simple way to connect the contact finger 5| electrically to the peripheral ring 58 is by means of a metal bolt or rivet 52, which passes through the disk and through extensions 53 and 54 on the contact members 58 and 5| respectively. This construction is most clearly shown in the enlarged fragmentary views of Figs. 5 and 6. The bolt or rivet 52 also serves the additional function of securing the parts 58 and 5| to the insulating disk 32, althrough separate fastening screws may be used if found necessary or desirable. The extension 53 may be a radial strip formed integral with the peripheral contact ring 58, and the same applies to the extension 54 of the contact finger 5|. The latter is preferably a finger of spring metal formed on its free end with a small knob or button 55, which is easily produced by displacing the metal. In like manner, each insulating disk 38 carries a peripheral contact ring 56 and a contact finger 51 electrically connected with the ring by a metal bolt or rivet 58. Since the contact members 56 and 51 of disk 38 are substantially identical with the contact members 58 and 5| of disk 32, the previous description of parts 58 and 5| is fully applicable to parts 56 and 51 without the need of repetition.

The insulated contact fingers 5| and 51 of each pair of disks 32 and 38 are so mounted that, when the disk 38 is in its inner position (that is, when the connected knob is pushed in), the two contact fingers remain out of engagement with each other during the rotary movement of either one of the disks. This is clear from Fig. 5. When, however, a knob 35 is pulled out, the connected disk 38 is moved to such position that the buttonshaped ends 55 and 59 of the spring contacts 5| and 51 are brought into the same radial plane. Consequently, during the rotation of disk 32 by the clock, the spring finger 5| will at the proper moment engage the spring finger 51 of the manually adjusted disk 38, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. The contact fingers 5| and 51 are sufiiciently resilient to give way easily andthereby not interfere with the rotation of disks 32 and 38. It is only necessary to the operation of the device that the contact fingers 5| and 51 remain in engagement for a few seconds to close certain circuits, as will be explained in the description of the circuit diagram illustrated in Fig. 8. It is assumed that the. disks 38 are held in any manually adjusted position with suificient friction to prevent their being radially displaced by the engagement of contact fingers 5| and 51.

An insulated arm 68 is associated with each pair of disks 32 and 48, and each arm carries a pair of resilient contact fingers or brushes 6| and 62. The insulated arms 6| may be integral extensions of small plates 63, which are easily atv tached to the back panel |2 of the box by screws 64. The parts 68 and 63 may be molded of composition material or the like. Each contact finger 6| is in pressure engagement with the conducting ring 58 of the associated disk 32, and each contact finger 62 engages the conducting ring 56 of the adjacent disk 88. The spring fingers 62 are wide enough to remain in engagement with the contact rings 56 during the axial adjustment of disks 38. The contact fingers 6| and-62 are securedto their respective supporting arms 60 by set-screws 65 or in any other practical way.

The front panel ID of the control box carries an additional pair of rotary and slidable knobs 66 and 61 provided with pointers 68 and 69 arranged to cooperate with time dials 18 and 1|, respectively, which are divided into quarter hours, like the station-selecting dials 4|. What has previously been said about the construction and mounting of knobs 35 and dials 4| applies fully to knobs 66-61 and dials 1|l--1|., The knobs 66 and 61 are carried by (or form part of) sleeves 12 and 13 rotatably mounted on fixed shafts 14 and 15, respectively, which are supported at their rear ends by the back plate l2, as described for shafts 28. A pinion 16 rotatable on shaft 14 meshes with an idle gear wheel 11, which is journalled on a pin or stud 18 carried by the back plate l2. The idler 11 also engages the pinion 21 of disk 320, which (as already explained) is driven by the hourshaft 2|. The shaft 15 carries a pinion 19 in mesh with an idle gear wheel 80 mounted on a stud 8|, which may be screwed intothe back plate |2, like the studs 28. The idler 88 also engages the pinion 21 of the clock-driven disk 32E, whereby the pinion 19 rotates clockwise.

The pinions 16 and 19 are attached to (or integral with) sleeves 16 and 19' rotatable on their respective shafts 14 and 15, and those sleeves carry insulating disks 82 and 83, which may be similar to the disks 32 in construction and mounting. In Fig. 3 the disk 82 is partly broken away, as indicated by the circular outline 82', to show certain parts behind it. Since the pinions 16 and 19 have the same number of teeth as the pinions 23 and 21, it is evident that the disks 82 and 83 rotate clockwise at the rate of one revolution an hour. The insulating disks 82 and 83 carry peripheral contact rings 84 and 85, which are always engaged by a pair of contact fingers 86 and 81 mounted on insulated arms 88 and 88. What has been said for the construction and mounting of arms 60 may be considered applicable to arms 88 and 89.. The disk 82 carries a forwardly projecting contact finger 98, which is electrically connected to the contact ring 84. Similarly, the disk 83 has a contact. finger 9| electrically connected to the peripheral ring 85. It may be assumed that the previous description of the mounting and connection of contact members 58 and 5| on disks 32 applies also to the contact members 84 and 98 on disk 82 and to the contact members 85 and 9| on disk 83.

, The rotary and slidable sleeve 12 on shaft 14 (see Fig. 4) carries an insulating disk 92, which has a peripheral conducting ring 93 and a rearwardly projecting contactfinger 94 electrically connected to the ring. The ring 93 is always engaged by a contact finger 95 mouned on the insu ated arm 88. Similarly, as shown in Fig. 2, the rotary and slidable sleeve 13 on shaft 15 carries an insulating disk 96, which has a peripheral metal ring 91 and a contact finger 98 projecting rearwardly therefrom. A spring finger 99 on arm 89 presses against the ring 01, which is electrically connected to the contact finger 98. It may be assumed that the two pairs of cooperating contact fingers "-84 and "-4. are constructed and arranged like the cooperating contacts 5i and 51 on each pair of aligned disks 22 and 38. That is to say, when the knobs 66 and 61 are pushedimthecontacts ti and M on disks 82and l2, and the contacts ll and N on disks .3 and 96, are allinoperative. When theknobiiispulledoutandthepointer turned to the desired time indication, the contact is movedintothe'path oithe clock-drivenknobs i6 and-61 wiilbe explainedin due .Reierring to Fig. 1, the front panel Ilof boxBalsocarriesanextrapushbutton Illior tuningin any station at any time independently of knobs 35, a volume-control knob III, a pair of switch-operating members I02 and I, and

two signallamps Ill and I05. While'the lamps are not absolutely it is usually desirable to have.them ior the purposeot isually informing the operator whether theelectric of connecting the rheostat Iii-4" in the radio power for the radio receiver andiorthe recording deviceis on or oil.

operatesacontactarmlltwbichmovesover a'resistance element in for regulating the-vol ume of reproduction. There are several ways circuit for volume control, but I need not go into specific details, because such conneetionsare well understood in the radio artandiormnopartoi' 'my invention. The signal lamps "land-II are preferably difierent colors for distincflon f-that is, thelight shines through dii'ierentlycolored lenses mounted on the front oi the box. For example, thelamp I may be red to indicate that receiver is on, and the other lamp Ill may be green to let the operator know that the record- 1 ing device is in operation. The switch-operating members 2-403 are shown for convenience as snap-over levers, but any other kind of suitable finger-piece may be used.

In Fig. 8 the dotted outline Ill represents diagrammatically the remote controlbox B, and. parts within that outline are supposed to be mounted in the box. Hence, all wires the dotted outline I represent conductors the electric cable'that operatively connects the box Bwith-a radio-meiver R and a recordinz outfit S. The system of Fig.

in the connecting cable, which 8 requires at most only eighteen wires may be in the form of a flat ilexible band easy to place. anywhere. Of course, these connections may be' concealed within'walls, like electric housewiring'. I havespoke or eighteen wires in the connecting cable, but only sixteen 01 these are indicated in Fig. 8, because I have omitted the two wires that would lead from the volume-controlling rheostat and station-selecting disks II have been omitted, and the'contacts 51 carried by those disks are diagrammatically represented as rotary arms, which are distinguished by the suiiix letters the electric power for the.

crossing IDS-Ill to the radio'receiver- B. To simplify the circuit diagram, the time-settingcontact A to F for the diiierent stations herein selected by way of example. The finger piece I02 is connected to a cam Ill pivoted at III], and this cam actuates a spring switch arm II2, which is normally out of engagement with the associated stationary contact 2. Ahump ill on switch arm II2 presses against the tip of cam II! and holds the latter in either operated podtion against a palroi' fixed stops H and H6. Whenthe finger piece "2 is thrown against stop Hi, the tip of cani Ill rides on to the peak of hump IN and holds the spring arm II2 pressed against contact'lll; Inthesamewaydoesthepivotedcam -II'I ofthe finger piece Ill control the position oithespringswitcharm Illwlthrespecttoits contact I II. I want it understood that the members II2-II3 and II.II! represent any kind of suitable. switch.

Therectangularoutline Rissupposedtostand for any approved type or make of radio receiver. and no description thereof is necessary. For I haveseparately indicated a loud-. speakerhwhichisconnectedtothe outputoi the receiver and is usually (but not necessarily) houaed'in the radio cabinet itself. The electrical connections from the antenna to the input of the radio receiver have been omitted, and I have shown only a pair of conductors l2. and HI leadim to the receiver for supplying all necessary parts with electric power. If the radio receiver R is of the type operated from the house-lighting system, connections are made by inserting a plug I22 into a suitable socket in the lighting circuit,

\and the leads I22-I2l of the plug may for the purpom of this description be considered as the source of power for the receiver R and the recording outfit S. The conductor I2I goes directlytromthepowermain I24totheradio receiver, but the other conductor I2. is connected to the'lead I22 through the switch II2II3. To

this end the lead I2! is connected to switch arm H2, and the associated contact II! is connected to wire I25, to which the conductor I2II is connected at I26. The signal lamp I is included in wire I25, and it may be shunted by an equivalent resistancei2'| to prevent breaking of the circuit it the lamp should accidentally burn out. when the switch arm H2 is closed by moving the finger piece I02 on box 13 to "on" position,

I the power circuit 'is completed through conductor I23, closed switch III-AIS, wires I25 and I20. through radio receiver R, wire HI, and back to the return main I24. t

It is; generally known that every radio receiver has adjustable tuning means, which at the present time are almost universally in the form of variable condensers mounted on one or more shafts. For simplicity I have assumed that the radio receiver R has a rotary shaft which opcrates the variable tuning elements by rotating through a predetermined arc in either direction.

This rotary tuning shaft is diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 8 by the dotted line I28. It should be understood that the tuning shaft I28 and all associated parts are shown removed from the radio set R. in Fig. 8 for the-sake of clearness. The shaft I28 carries a-series of cam disks I 29, which uare'diiierentiated by the suiiix letters A to 1", and which are supposed to represent the same stations as the remote-control knobs (A to F) and the contacts operated thereby. The disks I29 are so fixed on shaft I28 that the angular positicn of the cam point I30 of each disk corresponds to a certain preselected station.

The cam disks I29 may be stamped or cut from a sheet of insulating material like bakelite; and each disk controls a pair of switches, which are shown diagrammatically as contacts I3 I-I 32 and contacts I33--I34. The contacts |3I and I33 are movable spring arms arranged to cooperatewith the adjacent stationary contacts I32 and I34 respectively. To facilitate thetracing of circuits, I have differentiated between the switch arms I3I and I33 by using suflix letters A to F. The switch arms I3I and I33 associated with each cam disk I29 are connected by an insulating pin I35, so that they always move as a single member. Or, the switch arms of each pair may be arranged side by side and engaged simultaneously bythe cam point I30 of the associated disk I29. It will be noticed that the switch members I3I--I32 are normally closed, whereas the switch members I33--I34 are normally open, for a reason that wilipresently appear. The normal position of switch arms I3I and I33 may be obtained by the inherent set or tension of the spring metal composing the arms, but separate restoring means may be used if preferred. In practice, all the switches I3I-I32 and I33--I34 may be mounted on a single insulating bar arranged parallel with shaft I28 and adjacent thereto.

The. recording apparatus S is diagrammatically indicated by a rectangular outline, and it will not be necessary to show or describe the structural details of any particular device, because such details form no part of my invention. Recording devices of various. kinds for home use are well known in .the art and are obtainable in the market. For example, certain recording outfits employ a blank phonograph disk or cylinder, usually provided with a plain spiral groove in which a recording styluscutsa sound track. Other recording machines operate on the optical principle and utilize light variations to photograph sound tracks on a film. A third type of recording device uses a magnetic wire or tape to record the sound magnetically on the well-known Poulsen principle. It will therefore be understood that the part S in Fig. 8 represents any type or make of recording mechanism suitable for use in my invention, and the only thing I need to specify about this mechanism is that it has an electric motor I36 for driving the recording element. whether it be a wax disk, a roll of film, a spool of'magnetic wire, or any other member adapted to receive recordings. So it may be assumed that, when the motor I36 is energized, the recording mechanism operates, and it stops when the motor circuit is broken or when the motor is otherwise disconnected from the shaft that drives the recording element. The operative circuits for the device S are not shown and need not be described, for, they are well known to all acoustic engineers.

. Two conductors I31 indicate diagrammatically an operative connection between the output of the radio receiver R and the input of the recording device S, whereby 'the broadcast program coming through the receiver is automatically recorded while being at the same time reproduced through the loudspeaker L. Of course, the lat ter can be cut out, if desired, during the recording operation, but people usually want to hear what is being recorded.

The tuning shaft I28 may be operated by hand in the usual way when the remote control box B is not being used, but to effect remote tuning I It will be understood that the shaft of this motor is connected in properly reduced ratio to the tuning shaft I28 in any practical way. In the present instance it has been assumed that the shaft I28 turns through half a revolution to cover the tuning range. Hence, when the shaft I28 is operated by motor I30, it is necessary to reverse the rotation of the shaft automatically at each end of its arc of travel. This may be accomplished in any practical way, as by an automatically reversing transmission connection between the motor shaft and the tuning shaft, or by a suitable reversing switch in the motor circuit. In the latter case it is necessary to use a reversible motor, and by way of example I have shown the motor I38 as of the shunt-wound reversible type operating on direct current. Another kind of reversible motor obtainable in the market is an induction motor run by alternating current. It is immaterial what kind of power unit is used to rotate the tuning shaft I28 either continuously in the same direction (when the tuning elements of the radio receiver permit that) or alternately in opposite directions through a certain arc.

In the present instance, the armature winding I39 of tuning motor I38 is connected to a reversing switch indicated as a whole by W. Asrepresented diagrammatically in Fig. 8, this switch comprises a pair of contact arms I40I4I pivoted at points I42--I43 and connected by an insulating pin I44. Two pairs of contacts I45- I46 and I41--I48 are associated with switch arms I40-I4I. The opposite ends of the armature winding I39 are connected by wires I49 and I50 to contacts I45 and I46, respectively. The wire I49 (or contact I45) is connected by wire I 5| to contact I48, and a wire I52 goes from contact I46 (or wire I50) to contact I41. Thus it is clear that, when the switch arms I40I4I are in full-line position as shown in Fig. 8, the current flows through the armature I39 in one direction; and when those switch arms are in the dotted-line position I40'--I4I', the armature current is reversed. There is no change of current flow in the shunt field winding I58-of the motor. In the circuit diagram of Fig. 8 it should be assumed that the reversing switch I40-I4I is automatically operated as the shaft I28 reaches either end of its arc of travel. One way of accomplishing this automatic operation of reversing switch W is illustrated in Fig. '7, which I will describe before taking up the circuits of Fig. 8. I

Referring to Fig. 7, the tuning shaft I28 carries a gear wheel I54 in mesh with a pinion I55 mounted on a shaft I56. The transmission ratio between these gears is 1:2, so that a half revolution of the gear'wheel I54 rotates the pinion I55 a full turn. The pinion I55 has a pin I51 arranged to engage the free end of an arm I58 pivoted on a stud I59. A second arm I 60 is also mounted on stud I59 and is connected to the upper arm I58 by a contracting coil spring I6I. The ends of this spring are attached to the pivoted arms I58 and I60 at the points I62 and I63 respectively. The line of tension of spring I 6| is to one side or the other of the pivot axis I59, so that the spring always tends to rock the arms I58 and I60 toward each other. The free end of the upper arm I58 projects into the path of pin I51 on pinion I55, whereby that arm is rocked through a small arc limited by two fixed stops I64 and I65. If we assume for the moment that the pinion I55 is turning counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 7, the pin I51 will strike the'left side of arm I58 and throw it against the right stop'l65.

I movements of This construction produces a reversing to the right, or counterclockwise. When the pinion I55 turns clockwise after the arm I58 has been moved against the top I65, the pin I51 at the end of one revolution of the pinion will move the arm I58 counterclockwise andf the tensioned spring I6 I will snap the lower arin I68 to the left. The snap-over movementsof the pivoted arm I68 are utilized to operate the contact arms I48-- I of the reversing switch W previously described in connection with Fig. 8. For this purpose the free end of arm I68 moves between the opposing ,humps I66 and I61 on switch arms I48 and MI.

When the actuating arm I68 presses against the hump I68 on switch member I48, the circuit is closed through the armature I39 as follows: Assuming thepoint I42 to be connected with the positive terminal 01' an electric power circuit, the current goes through the arm I48, contact I45, wire I49, throughthe armature winding I39 in a certain direction, wires I58 and I52, and across the closed switch contacts I41 and I to the point I43, which is supposed to be connected to the return conductor of the circuit. When the pivoted arm I68 is snapped by coil spring I6I against the hump I61 of switch arm I, the contacts I46 and I48 are engaged by the movable switch arms I48- -I4I and the current now fiows through the armature winding in the reverse direction as follows: From point I42, contact arm I48, contact I46, wire I58, through the armature winding I39 ina direction reverse to the previous flow of current, wires I49 and I5I, and across the closed contacts I48 and I to the point I43. Since the current through the shunt field winding I53 of the tuning motor I38 is not reversed with the reversal of the armature current, it follows that the motor automatically reverses its operation every time the arm I68 is snapped from one position to the other by the tensioned spring I6I.

Attention is called to the fact that the snap-over the pivoted arm I68 produce instantaneous opening and closing of the switch, whereby arcing is avoided. It should-be assumed that the switch arms- I48--I4I remain in firm pressure engagement with their respective contacts until the actuating arm I68 strikes the opposite hump I66 or I61, as the case may be. This means that there is no movement of the switch members I48--I4l during the preliminary movements of the pivoted arm I68 when the tension line of spring I6I starts moving from one side tothe other of the pivot axis I59. Whatever flutterings may occur at the free end of arm I68 prior to the actual snap-over swing, the closed position of the switch members I48-I4I is not free end of the arm actually strikes the opposite hump I66 or I61 and moves the switch members I48I 4 I to the other position. switch free from arcing, which is very desirable in practice. It should also be noted that, although the pin I51 does not complete a full revolution from one position to the other before it strikes one side or the other of arm I58, the fact is that the actual snap-over movement of arm I68 occurs just as the pinion I55 reaches the end of a complete revolution. This insures versal of tuning shaft I28 every time it completes half a revolution. Manifestly, the operation of reversing switch W by the pinion I55 can take place at the end of a complete revolution of tuning shaft I28, if the tuning devices of a particular type of radio receiver so require. reversing switch W above described has certain 2,097,901 I59, whereby the lower arm I68 is quickly snapped vwire I86 to wire I25. It should be noted that wires I8I and the automatic re- Although the practical advantages, I want it understood that my invention, is not limited to any particular form of reversing means for the motor-driven tuning shaft I28.

Returning now to Fig. 8 for the circuit connections, we see that the rotary contacts 51 are all connected to a common conductor I68, which in actual practice may be a short metal bar, or even a single binding post, conveniently mounted in box B and electrically connected to the brushes or contact fingers 62. The common conductor I68 is connected by wire I69 to wire I25 at point I18. The push button I88 is mounted on (or otherwise operates) a switch arm "I to which the wire I25 is connected. The switch arm "I may simply be a spring finger which normally holds the button I88 pushed out and which is movable into engagement with a stationary contact I12. A-wire I13 connects the contact I12 with the point or terminal I42 of switch arm I48. A wire I14 connects the service main I24 with one end of the field winding I53 of tuning motor I88, andthe other end of this winding is connected to'the stationary contact I12 at point I15. From this point a conductor I16 leads to point I11 of a common conductor I18 to which all the stationary contacts I32 are connected in parallel. The conductor I18 may be a short contact bar or a single binding post in the radio cabinet. Each contact brush or finger 6I inthe remote control box B is connected by a wire I19 to a corresponding switch arm I 3I in the radio receiver. For distinction I have marked the different wires I19 with the sufiix letters A to F. Thus it will be seen that contact finger 6I A is connected by wire I19A to switch arm I3IA; contact finger 6IB is connected by wire H913 to switch arm I3IB, and so on for the other contact fingers H and switch arms III.

A wire I88 leading from the service conductor I24 is connected in parallel to allthe switch arms I33 in the radio receiver, and the contacts I34 of these switch arms are connected to a common conductor I8I which goes to the terminal I62 of the recording mechanism S. The other terminal able parts, and this motor is therefore connected in the supply circuit through the switch I I8-I I9. The signal lamp I85 may be included in conductor I8 I, and is preferably shunted by an equivalent resistance I85 'to prevent interference with the operation of the system by an accidental burning out of the lamp. The movable switch arm II8 operated by the finger piece I83 is connected by the hand switch I I8-'I I9 is in series with the switches I33--I 34 in the radio receiver. This means that, even when the finger piece I83 is moved to on position to closethe switch arm I I8, the recording mechanism is not placed in operative condition until one of the switch es 133-434 has been closed by the associated cam disk l29 on the tuningshait I28. It may be assumed that the circuit I84 which lead to the recording mechanism S energize not only the driving motor I36 but also all other electrical parts contained in the device. This'will be understood without elaboration.

Still referring to Fig. 8, the switch-operating I 90 and I 9I One side of coil I90 is connected to conductor I 23, and the other side of the coil is connected by wire I92 to contact 94 of the handoperable disk 92. In the actual device, the wire I92 will be connected to the contact finger or brush 95 which engages the peripheral ring 93 of disk 92. For simplicity the parts 92, 93 and 95 have been omitted in the diagram of Fig. 8. One

side of the other solenoid coil I9I is connected to wire I25, and the other side of that coil is con nected by wire I93 to contact 98 of the handoperable disk 96. It will therefore be understood that the rotary contacts 94 and 98 in Fig. 8 are adjustable to any time indication by the knobs 66 and 81, respectively, of Fig. 1. The contact brushes 86 and 81 associated with disks 82 and 83 are connected by wires I94 and I95 to the service main I24. If the solenoid coils I90 and I9I are designed to operate at low voltage, suitable resistances I96 and I91 may be inserted in wires I92 and I93. It is clear that, when the coil I90 is energized, the cam I09 is rocked clockwise to close the switch arm I I2, which remains firmly closed even after the circuit of coil I90 is broken. When the other coil I9I is energized, the pivoted cam I09 is rocked the other way to allow the spring arm I I2 to snap into normal open position. It should be noted that the solenoid mechanism connected with cam I09 does not at any time interfere with the operation of the switch by means of the finger piece I02.

To explain the operation of the clock-controlled tuning system and recording mechanism as above described, let us assume that a person wants to record the program that will come in over station.

WOR beginning at 1:45 P. M. To bring this about, it is only necessary to perform the following simple manipulations on the remote control box B: The knobs 35A and 66 are pulled out and their respective pointers 40 and 68 are turned to the hour 1:45, as shown in Fig. 1, and the recording switch I03 is thrown to on position. It may be assumed that these preliminary manipulations are done some time prior to 1:45 P. M. The radio switch I02 is left in of! position, because it is supposed that theradic receiver will not be used until the hour of 1:45. When that time arrives, the clock-driven contact IA of disk 32A engages the contact 51A which was previously set to the 1 :45 time indication by the knob 35A. At the same time the clock-driven contact 90 of disk 82 engages the contact 94 which was set by the knob 66. The engagement of contacts 90 and 94 energizes the solenoid coil I90 through the following circuit: Conductor I23, coil I90, wire I 92, across the closed contacts 94 and 90, collector brush 89, and through wire I 94 to the return lead I24. The energizing of 0611 I90 pulls down the magnetic plunger I88 and rocks the cam I09 to close the switch arm H2. The closing of this switch energizes the tuning motor I38 as follows: From service conductor I23 across the closed switch II2--II3, wire I25 to point I10,

wire I69, common conductor I68, across the closed contacts 51A and 5IA, collector brush SIA', wire I19A, across the closed switch I3IAI32 to point I11 of conductor I18, wire I18 to point I15, from there through the armature I39 and field coil I53 of motor I38, as previously explained, and finally through wire I14 to the return lead I24.

It should be noted that the recording mechanism S has not yet been energized, because the desired station has not been tuned in. However, it takes only a few seconds for the motor I38 to rotate the tuning shaft I28 until the cam I80 of disk I 29A strikes the hump of switch arm I3IA, and moves the latter out of engagement with contact I32. Thereupon the circuit of motor I38 is broken and the shaft I28 stops instantly in correct tuning position for the selected station WOR. When the switch arm l3 IA is thrown open by the cam disk I29A, the connected switch arm I33A is at the same time moved against the associated contact I34, whereby the power supply leads I 8I and I84 of the recording mechanism S are included in circuit as follows: From main conductor I 23, closed switch IIZ-I I 3, wires I25 and I86, closed switch I I8--I I9, Wire I84, terminal I83, from there through the driving motor I36 and all the other electrical parts in the recording device, then to outgo terminal I82, wire I8I and lamp I05, across the closed switch contacts I34-- I33A, and through wire I 80 to the return conductor I24. The recording mechanism S is therefore in operative condition to record the broadcast coming from station WOR at 1:45 P. M. The

recording of the received program goes on automatically while it is being reproduced through the loudspeaker L of the radio receiver. The recording mechanism may be in the same cabinet with the receiver or mounted in a separate casing placed at any convenient point.

It will not .be necessary to trace the circuits for the other stations represented by the knobs 35B to 35F, because those circuits will be readily understood from Fig. 8 by the skilled electrician. If a personwants to have several stations brought in automatically at predetermined moments, it is only necessary to pull out the corresponding knobs 35 and set their respective pointers to the various times when the stations start the desired programs. For example, in Fig. 1, if all theknobs 35 are pulled out, station WJZ' will come in at 12:30, station WOR at 1:45, station WEAF at 3:00, station WGBS at 6:00, station WABC at 7:45, and station WRNY at :45. It is assumed'that these times are all between 12:00 noon and 12:00 midnight. Since programs of quality are not broadcast between 12:00 midnight and morning, there is no need to divide the dials 4I into twenty-four hours, although such a refinement may be adopted if desirable in any particular case. When several stations are selected by pullingout the knobs 35, each station will be automatically brought in at the time set, so that the operator pays no attention to the remote control box after the preliminary manipulations have been accomplished. In this way the recording mechanism S will automatically record the broadcast programs of the different stations in the order in which they came in.

If the receiver R and the recording mechanism S are to be shut off at the conclusion of a certain broadcast, the knob 61 is pulled out and set to indicate the time at which the electric power is pose'a person need only pull out the knob 61 and turn the pointer 69 to the hour of 11:30, and when that moment arrives, the clock-driven contact 9| of disk 83 engages the contact 98 which was set by the pointer 69. The circuit is now closed through solenoid coil I9I as follows: conductor I23, closed switch I I 2I I 3, coil I 9|. wire I93, across the engaging contacts 98 and 9I, col lector brush 81, and through wire I95 to the return lead I24. The energizing of coil I9I rocks the cam I09 into the position shown in Fig. 8 to open the switch arm II 2. All circuits for the hand or by means of the time-in" knob 86.

The purpose of push button I88 on the remote control box B is for tuning inany station at any time independently of the knobs 35 which represent certain preselected stations. The push button IIIII is used, for instance, when a person does not desire any particular station but merely wants to go hunting for a suitable program. no matter where it comes from. In that case, it is assumed that the knobs 35, 55 and 51 are all pushed in, whereby the time mechanism is rendered inoperative. Thefinger piece I82 is thrown to on position to close the power circuit of the radio receiver, but the circuit of the tuning motor I38 will not be closed until the button I88 is pushed in and is held in that position. The circuit of motor I38 is closed as iollows: Conductor I23, across the closed switch II2-II3, wire I25 across the closed switch I'II-II2, from there in parallel through the armature winding I39 and field coil I53 of motor I38, and through wire in to the return lead 124. As long as the button I is held in, the motor I38 continues to rotate the tuning shaft I28 slowly until the operator is satisfied with a certain program, whereupon the push button I00 is released and the radio receiver remains in tuning position for the station last heard. To record a program obtained by the hunting button IIIII, I provide a separate switch indicated as a whole by V at the bottom of Fig. 8. when the switch members I98-I98 are closed, the recording circuitsare closed through conductor I23, closed switch II2I I3, wires I25 and I86, closed switch lI8-I I9, wire I84, through the recording mechanism S, wire I8I to point 280, closed switch I38-I39, and through wire I8ll to return lead I23. The finger piece 2M may be mounted on the front panel of the remote control box B. 7

- The individual tuning knobs 35 can also be used for tuning in at any moment the stations represented by those knobs. Let us say, forv instance, that it is 6:15 by the clock dial I1, and that a person wants to tune in station WJZ at that moment, it is only necessary to pull out the knob 35D and turn its pointef tothe hour o1!6:l5,

. whereby the contacts ID and 51D of the associated disks 32 and 38 are brought instantly into engagement and close the circuit through the tuning motor I38 in the manner previously described. The rounded buttons 55 and 58 onthe spring fingers 5| and 51 (see Figs. 5 and .6) permit the spring finger 51 to be moved axially as well as radially into engagement with the rounded end of spring finger 5|. The contacts 5| and 51 remain .in engagement long enough for motor I58 to move the shaft I28 into preselected tuning position. The slidable adjustment of knobs 35 permits any one 01 the individual stations indi-' cated on panel III to be disconnected from the control of the clock, mechanism. Whenever a knob 35 is pushed in, the station represented by that knob is not subject to clock control. The dialing button IIIII'is needed only to bring in stations other than those represented; on the front Under our present system of chain broadcasting, a person in any locality can get all the good programs from three or four stations, sothat not more than that small number of dials M will generally be necessary on the remote control box.

Although I have shown and described a certain iormnt apparatus and system for remote control and recording of radio broadcast, I want it understood that the broad features of my invention may be embodied in other ways than herein set forth. Many changes and modifications are doubtless possible within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination of a radio receiver having variable tuning means, clock-controlled mechanism for automatically operating said tuning means ata predetermined time to tune in a preselected station, said mechanism having a plurality of finger pieces operatively disconnectedirom the mechanism, there being a finger piece for each station to be preselected, means for mounting each finger piece for independent rotary and axial adjustments by hand, means controlled by a manual rotary adjustment or any -finger piece to select the time at which the cormore stations to be tuned in at predetermined intervals, manually controlled means for operating said tuning mechanism independently of said clock-controlled switches to tune in any station at any time, a. manually operable switch member for rendering said recording device operatlve to record the broadcast of a station tuned in by said manually controlled means, means for automatically setting said recording device in operation when said mechanism is in tuning position for a selected station, said last-mentioned means being operable independently of said switch member, manually operable means carried by said box for rendering said last-mentioned means inoperative, wherebythe recording device is kept out of operation, a loudspeaker operatively connected with said receiver, and means for simultaneously operating said recording device and said loudspeaker, which remains operative when said recording device is rendered inoperati ve by said manually operable means.

3. A clock-controlled tuning mechanism for radio receivers, comprising in combination a plurality of dials representing each a certain station, a pair of rotary electric contacts associated with each dial, one contact of each pair being manually adjustable and the other contact being operated by clock-work, a single clock-driven shaft for simultaneously operating all of said other contacts, whereby the manual adjustment of the first-named contact of any dial determines the time at which said contact engages the associated clock-driven contact, means whereby the engagement of a pair of said contacts automatically tunes in the station represented by the corresponding dial, and means for moving the manually adjustable contact of any pair out 01 the path of the associated clock-driven contact to render the correspondingstation dial ineffective a clock having its face on the front panel of said box, a plurality of dials mounted on said panel around said clock face, each dial representing a certain station and bearing time notations, a manually turnable pointer associated with each V dial, an electric contact operated by each pointer,

5. The combination of a radio receiver having variable tuning means, a rotaryshaft for operating said tuning means, electric driving means for said shaft, a set of normally closed switches operatively associated with said shaft and representing each a certain station, a set of clockcontrolled switches representing the same stations as said first set of switches, each clock-controlled switch comprising ,a rotary clock-driven contact and a manually adjustable contact, a rotatable and slidable spindle on which each manually adjustable contact mounted, a finger piece for adjusting said spindle rotatably and axially, the axial adjustment of said spindle moving the supported contact into and out of the,

path of the associatedcloclg-driven contact, electric connections whereby the closing or a clock controlled switch at a predetermined moment automatically energizes said electric driving means, and means controlled by said shaft for automatically opening one 01 said first-named set of switches when the shaft is in tuning position for the station represented by the closed clockcontrolled switch and the opened shaft-controlled '6. A clock-controlled tuning mechanism for radio receivers, comprising in combination a plurality of dials representing each a certain sta- 4 tion, a pair of rotary electric contacts associated with each dial, one contact of each pair being manually adjustable and the other contact being operated by clock-work, a single clock-driven shaft for simultaneously operating all of said other contacts, whereby the manual adjustment of the first-named contact of any dial determines the time at which said contact engages the associated clock-driven contact, means whereby the engagement of a pair of said contacts automatically tunes in the station represented by the cor- ,responding dial, a pair of additional dials carried by said mechanism and having each a manually adjustable pointer to indicate the time, con

tact means associated with said additional dials for causing the connected radio receiver to be automatically turned on and oil? at the respective times indicated by the pointers of said additional 7. The combination of a radio receiver having variable tuning elements, a rotary shaft for actuating said elements an electric motor for operating said shaft, clock-controlled mechanism for automatically energizing said motor at a predetermined time to operate said shaft to any oneof a plurality of preselected tuning p0- sitions, said mechanism includinga switch and a finger piece for each station, each finger piece being selectively operable to cause automatic closing of the associated switch by said mechanism at a time when a preselected station shall be-tuned in, there being connections whereby any closed switch energizes said motor, a device controlled by said clock-controlled mechanism for recording the program of a tuned-in station, and means whereby any finger piece is manually adjustable to prevent closing of the associated switch by the clock-controlled mechanism, which is thereby rendered ineifective to tune in'the station represented by the adjusted finger piece,

each finger piece being also adjustable to close the associated switch at any time so as to tune in instantly the corresponding station independently of the clock movement 01' said mechanism.

' anonrn a rnoms. 

